Ten new inquiries into police handling of abuse

South Yorkshire Police said it was "profoundly aware" of its previous failings

Ten new investigations have been launched into South Yorkshire Police's past handling of child sexual abuse cases in Rotherham.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the decision was made after complaint referrals from the force between July and September 2025.

South Yorkshire Police said it was "profoundly aware" of its previous failings and would support any investigation "to ensure victim survivors feel listened to".

IOPC director Emily Barry said: "It is entirely understandable that all those affected, as well as the wider public, will have concerns about these further complaints so that is why it's vital we ensure they are thoroughly and robustly investigated."

The complaints were submitted by Switalskis Solicitors on behalf of 10 women who claimed South Yorkshire Police failed to take action to protect them from abuse when they were children.

They said the abuse was perpetrated by members of the public who were known to police but not sufficiently investigated and that South Yorkshire Police failed to act on crucial information.

'Never too late'

South Yorkshire Police said the majority of the complaints related to allegations dating back to the early 2000s.

"When we receive new allegations of past failings of this nature, we will refer these for independent review," Assistant Ch Con Hayley Barnett said.

"We then fully support any subsequent investigation, in whatever format, to ensure victim survivors feel listened to, and have the opportunity to get the answers and outcome they seek."

Assistant Ch Con Barnett urged other victims to come forward, saying it was "never too late" and "our door will always be open".

Switalskis Solicitors said it welcomed the IOPC's decision to investigate the complaints but voiced concerns that previous investigations such as Operations Linden and Amazon did not result in any police officers being held accountable.

A spokesperson for the firm said: "These developments serve as a stark reminder of the scale of institutional failure and the enduring impact on survivors.

"Reports and inquiries are vital steps toward accountability, but survivors deserve more than recognition - they need justice, sustained care, and meaningful reform within the systems that failed them."

South Yorkshire Police said most of the complaints related to allegations dating back to the early 2000s

Operation Linden was a wide-ranging and detailed series of investigations into how South Yorkshire Police responded to allegations of child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

"When we published our overarching report on the Operation Linden investigations, we acknowledged that there may be further complaints and that is why we have always wanted to ensure that any victim-survivors felt able to come forward," Ms Barry said.

"We have informed all parties of our decision to independently investigate these matters and we will ensure complainants are kept informed as the investigations progress."

These are separate to the National Crime Agency's investigation into allegations that South Yorkshire Police officers sexually abused children in Rotherham.

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